Ethan’s POV
The lunchroom was buzzing with the usual chatter and noise, but my mind was miles away. A student from the hall had just told me the news. Ella was back at school. My heart sank at the thought. I didn’t want to hurt her anymore, but I knew avoiding her wouldn’t solve anything either. 
I glanced over to where Ella was standing with her tray, her eyes scanning the room. My stomach twisted. She looked lost in thought, her gaze occasionally drifting my way. I wanted to approach her, to talk things through, but I knew Khian would be furious if he saw me near her. And right now, I was already in trouble with him.
I tried to focus on my own lunch, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the mess I was in. Just then, Katherine walked over to my table. Her expression was more serious than usual. I knew she was going to bring up the problem with my dad. 
Katherine took a seat across from me, her eyes flickering towards Ella before she looked back at me. “Ethan,” she started, her voice low, “I wanted to let you know that your dad’s situation is getting worse. He’s been having more outbursts, and it's causing problems with his business. It might affect you more than you think.”
I nodded, feeling a heavy weight settle on my shoulders. I knew my dad's issues had been affecting me, but hearing it directly from Katherine made it more real. I wanted to fix things, but right now, I felt trapped.
As Katherine finished speaking, she stood up to leave. I noticed that Ella was still watching us, her curiosity barely concealed. My heart ached seeing her like this. I wanted to reach out, but the fear of making things worse kept me in my seat.
Katherine walked away, and I finally let myself look over at Ella. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and I saw the confusion and hurt in her gaze. I felt a pang of regret, knowing I was the cause of that hurt. But I also felt helpless, stuck in a cycle of problems I didn’t know how to fix.
I glanced back at my lunch, trying to drown out the storm of emotions. I wished I could talk to Khian and make him understand my side, but with the tension between us, it felt impossible. And now, seeing Ella back in school, I was faced with the painful reality of the situation. I needed to make things right, but the path forward seemed uncertain and fraught with obstacles.
The lunchroom noise felt distant as I wrestled with my thoughts. I knew avoiding Ella wasn’t the answer, but for now, it seemed like the only option I had. The weight of the day and the tangled mess of my emotions left me feeling more lost than ever.
----
After lunch, I made my way to the school’s committee office. The hallways were quieter now, and the hum of the lunchroom had been replaced by the subdued sounds of students moving between classes. My nerves were on edge as I approached Khian’s office. I needed to talk to him, to figure out a way to fix the mess I’d created, but I wasn’t sure how he’d respond.
I knocked lightly on the door and waited for Khian’s voice to call me in. When I entered, he looked up from his desk, his expression a mix of curiosity and irritation. 
“What do you want, Ethan?” Khian asked, his tone guarded.
I took a deep breath and stepped inside, closing the door behind me. “Khian, I need to talk. I know things are rough between us, but I need to clear things up with Ella. I just want to explain what happened, why things turned out the way they did.”
Khian leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “And why should I let you do that?”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “Because I know I messed up. I don’t want to leave things this way. If you let me talk to Ella, I’ll leave town for good. I just need a chance to fix this mess before I go.”
Khian’s eyes narrowed. “You think you can just waltz in, clear your conscience, and leave? That’s not how it works.”
I felt a pang of frustration. “I know, but I don’t know how to fix things otherwise. I’m stuck, and I don’t have anyone else to turn to.”
Khian’s expression softened slightly, but he still looked troubled. “And what makes you think leaving will solve anything? Running away won’t fix your problems or make things right with Ella.”
I felt a cold knot form in my stomach. Khian’s words hit harder than I expected. I wanted to argue, to tell him how trapped I felt, but the weight of his statement made me pause. The truth was, I was running because I didn’t know how to face what I’d done.
Before I could respond, Khian stood up and walked over to a filing cabinet. He pulled out a folder and handed it to me. “I know you’re having a hard time, Ethan. I’m actually working on a case involving your dad’s troubles. If you really want to fix things, maybe I can help.”
I froze, staring at the folder in my hands. “You... you know about my dad’s problems?”
Khian nodded. “I’ve been trying to help find solutions. If you’re serious about making things right, then you need to face them head-on. Running won’t do any good. But if you’re willing to work through this, I can offer some assistance.”
My mind raced as I took in Khian’s offer, it made me smile a little. I guess the Khian I met when we where still kids are still here in this room, deep inside him. The idea of having someone to help with my dad’s issues was both a relief and a burden. I nodded slowly, feeling a mixture of hope and anxiety. “I… I don’t know how to thank you. I’ve been feeling like everyone hates me, and it’s hard to see a way out.”
Khian’s expression softened. “You don’t need to thank me. If Ella was I, she would have done the same if she knew about this. And just so you know facing your problems is the only way to move forward. Hiding from them won’t change anything.”
I nodded again, feeling the weight of his words. I turned to leave, but Khian stopped me. “One more thing, Ethan. If you really care about Ella, don’t make her suffer more by leaving without resolving things. It’s not just about you and your problems. And... ” He pause before letting out a sign.
“Clear things out with Ella by the end of this day. She's been holding a lot of what happened, you have my permission.”
I gave him a soft smile, his words echoing in my mind as I walked out of the office. The idea of facing everything head-on felt something, but at least now I had a small glimmer of hope. I knew I had to make things right, both for Ella and for myself and that's what I'm about to do today.